Earlier this month, the city finally released its Request for Proposals (RFP) for the 1.65 million square foot Seward Park project. Now it’s a waiting game until early May when development proposals for the mixed-use (residential/commercial) site are due. New York City planning officials are optimistic that there will be a lot of interest in the site, the largest city-owned parcel below 96th Street. But until those bids start to come in, the identities of the prospective builders and the contours of what they envision will likely remain a mystery.

But one well-known developer, the Gotham Organization, is making its interest in Seward Park very clear. Recently, Gotham Executive Vice President Melissa Panko told us, “Seward Park is the kind of project we want to do… Being a part of re-stimulating this area would be very exciting.” Since the RFP was released, Gotham has been hard at work preparing its proposal for submission to the Economic Development Corp.

Earlier this month, we reported briefly on the “500 Foot Hearing” at State Liquor Authority offices in upper Manhattan for Jose Rodriguez and Robert Payne, the team planning to open a Latin-style restaurant at 106 Rivington Street. Now here’s a more detailed account from that hearing, which pitted the operators and their supporters against Community Board 3 and members of the LES Dwellers neighborhood association.

A 500 Foot Hearing is required whenever the location of a proposed full liquor permit is within 500 feet of three or more existing licenses. In October, Community Board 3 voted 16-17 (two abstentions counted as “no” votes) to oppose the full bar. CB3, whose decisions are only recommendations to the Liquor Authority, approved a wine and beer license for the two-level, 200-person occupancy restaurant.